Orangutans and Longhouse Villages

Longhouses are what the native people uses(d) to live in.  It is a huge house set up on different planks in which families live and probably share responsibilities.  Some longhouses are a few hundred feet long and offer the a tight knit community a place to stay.  It was interesting to see the human skulls there as it was explained that these were taken from the enemies by head hunters and given as somewhat of a sacrifice.  Of course most of this happened before Christianity arrived in this community…

The Orangutan’s are what Borneo is known for and what most people come to the island to try and see.  Even at a sanctuary like Semenggoh, it is not guaranteed to see them.  Many of them are very territorial and the sanctuary is not a zoo and is a place for them to live with a lot of fruits away from problems.

We had the chance to go to two attempted viewings of the Orangutans and only were able to see them once.  While I would of liked to see them more as it was a short time we saw them, I am happy that they are staying in the jungle away from people or crowds as this shows that they can survive…….